No. 5 Ohio State defeats Maryland 45-16 in homecoming game

No. 5 Ohio State dominated Maryland 45-16 on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, improving to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten play. The victory marked the 100th game under coach Ryan Day, who improved his record to 87-13. Jeremiah Smith, widely considered college football's best player, scored touchdowns on his first two touches, turning short catches into explosive plays—a 33-yard score down the right sideline and an 11-yard reception. Quarterback Julian Sayin threw four touchdown passes, including scoring strikes to tight ends Nate Roberts and Mason Williams, as Ohio State built a commanding 31-10 halftime lead despite acknowledged sloppy execution. Smith finished with four catches for 93 yards, extending his career touchdown total to 38, one shy of the Big Ten record. Running back Bo Jackson added two rushing touchdowns as the Buckeyes controlled the second half on the ground.

Maryland, falling to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play, capitalized on several Ohio State mistakes to stay competitive early. The Terrapins pulled within 31-16 on a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Daniel Wingate in the third quarter, cutting into Ohio State's lead as the crowd noticeably thinned. However, Ohio State regrouped and put the game away with dominant run-game execution. Maryland's offense, led by quarterback Malik Washington, who has thrown at least 30 passes in eight consecutive games, struggled to keep pace with Ohio State's firepower.

Coach Ryan Day has emphasized the need for improvement despite the lopsided victory, noting that Ohio State faces a daunting stretch of ranked opponents that could define its season. The Buckeyes will visit No. 7 Indiana next Saturday, followed by trips to No. 19 Southern California (Oct. 31) and a home game against No. 13 Oregon (Nov. 7). For Maryland, the loss adds pressure on coach Mike Locksley in his eighth season. The program has gone 10-19 overall since consecutive 8-5 seasons in 2022-23, with just a 2-18 record in Big Ten play during that span. Maryland will host Rutgers on October 17 in its next matchup.